TAG Identification Process

Talented and Gifted (TAG) Screening Information

• PGCPS students will participate in a universal screening process for talented and gifted identification in Grade 1 and 4.

• New registrants to PGCPS in grades 2, 3 and 5 will be tested.

• Parents and Teachers may nominate students for TAG screening by January 15th.

• Contact the Elementary TAG Coordinator at ellen.stclair@pgcps.org for screening.

• Test data is valid for 2 years and TAG Coordinators can screen students using valid assessment data. Students with valid test data will not be retested.

• TAG identification is a multiple criteria process including cognitive ability test data, achievement data, teacher checklist of gifted characteristics, and report card grades.

• Parents/guardians may apply to the TAG Center Program via lottery DURING the screening process. Students MUST be TAG identified in order to receive placement into the TAG Center Program.

• Test scores will be sent home from the school.

• Please do not request test data from the TAG Office.

• School-based TAG Coordinators will screen every student who scores 81 percentile or higher on the cognitive ability assessment.

SY 2025-2026 Testing/Screening Timeline

• Grade 1 - All 1st graders will be tested in October/November using the Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) Booklet.

• Grade 2 - All new 2nd grade PGCPS registrants will be tested in December using the Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) Booklet.

• Grade 3 - All new 3rd grade PGCPS registrants will be tested in December using the Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) Booklet.

• Grade 4 - All 4th graders who are not already TAG identified will be tested in December using the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) online assessment.

• Grade 5 - All new 5th grade PGCPS registrants will be tested in December using the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) online assessment.

• Once results for identification are received, parents/students will be notified by the TAG Co-ordinator in a letter stating whether or not the student met the criteria for services.  If the student meets the criteria, it is for placement the following school year.

TAG Identification Procedures 

Parents who wish to have their schloar screened for TAG identification should follow the directions below.  The steps in the screening process are as follows:

• The current window to request screening is:  Forthcoming

• Parent/Student requests screening by sending an email to: 

  • • • TAG Coordinator: 

      • Subject Line: TAG Screening Request SY 2026

      • Body of email:  I am (name), parent of (student name).  I am contacting you to ask if (student name) could be screened for potential TAG identification.

• TAG Coordinator begins the paperwork using available data.

• Students scoring at the 89th percentile and above on both standardized achievement tests are in the qualifying range for TAG identification.

• Teachers will be asked to complete a Teacher Checklist after 4-6 weeks of observation of the students in their classrooms.

• Quarter-one grades will be acquired and used per policy/procedure.

• A TAG/SIT Committee meeting will determine whether the student is a viable candidate for testing.

• If the committee deems it appropriate, the coordinator will request the necessary tests from the TAG Office.

• The test will be administered to viable candidates and returned for evaluation.

• Upon receipt of the test results, the coordinator will complete any necessary additional paperwork and submit it to the TAG Office for final approval.

• Once results for identification are received, parents/students will be notified by the coordinator in a letter via USPS mail stating whether or not the student met the criteria for services.  If the student meets the criteria, it is for placement the following school year.

Any questions regarding this process should be directed to:

                       Accokeek Academy-TAG Coordinator: 

                        1400 Berry Road

                        Accokeek, MD 20607

Note: The screening process includes first-quarter grades and will begin after those grades are released. The deadline for requesting screening is January 15th. A final notification will be sent via letter indicating TAG identification status for possible entrance into the TAG program the following school year. If you have any questions, please refer to the email address above.